The final swing season of the PGA Tour is complete following the 2022 RSM Classic. Along with the conclusion of the fall swing comes a number of players who thrived and a list of player who … well, didn’t. While there are still competitive reps in the upcoming weeks on the DP World Tour, at the Hero World Challenge, QBE Shootout, The Match VII and PNC Championship, a bow has been put on the PGA Tour slate for the 2022 calendar year before play resumes at the Tournament of Champions in January.

This fall swing was inherently different from those of the past as modifications to the PGA Tour’s upcoming schedule and playoff structure heightened the intensity. With only 70 players gaining entry into the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and those falling outside the magic number eventually needing to vie for status, some saw this time of year as critical for their job security.

“It’s harder,” said Joel Dahmen of the new structure. “I mean, with the new system comes if you play really well, now you’re in that top tier, now you’re on the PGA Tour, not the PGB tour. The PGA Tour is really sweet right now and it’s the best time I think ever to be on Tour. Great play will get you to that next level and that’s a great spot to be.”

Dahmen was one of many to take advantage of his opportunities this fall. Playing in seven tournaments, the 35-year-old captured three top-10 finishes in addition to a couple top-20 results. For his efforts, Dahmen heads into 2023 ranked 15th in the FedEx Cup standings and in the driver’s seat to remain inside that coveted top-70 cutoff.

While Dahmen won’t be making the list of top winners from the fall, he is surely in the conversation and in a much better position than some of his peers who will be discussed in a different light. Not all were lucky enough to find their stride the past few months, and will have ample ground to make up come 2023.

Winners

Honorable Mention: Seamus Power, Alex Noren, Tommy Fleetwood, Rickie Fowler, Taylor Montgomery

Losers

Honorable Mention: Daniel Berger, Sam Burns, Cameron Champ, Taylor Pendrith

Source link

The PGA Tour’s fall swing is unlike any other part of its schedule. While there are a handful of top-tier events, most of the slate is an opportunity for either youngsters to make a name for themselves ahead of the meat of the schedule next spring or for flailing veterans to rediscover the groove that once made them great.

While we don’t know what the next few falls are going to look like — the Tour will likely move to a completely revamped fall swing in 2023 and beyond — the current fall slate will follow the last few and offer a few opportunities to some players that might go otherwise unnoticed if all the stars were in full swing.

Breakouts can manifest themselves in a number of different ways. Last year, Talor Gooch foreshadowed his leap into the top 40 in the world when he got off to a hot start during the fall swing and eventually won the RSM Classic to close out the schedule. That went a little sideways in 2022 when he disqualified himself from the PGA Tour after joining LIV Golf, but he’s a good example of how the Tour’s fall tournaments can be a springboard into a terrific following year.

The RSM Classic in 2019 provided a different kind of breakout for a fellow Oklahoma State player as Charles Howell III won the third tournament of his career and the first in 11 years. He represented the type of veteran who could take advantage of more inexperienced fields and get a long season on track early with some big performances.

Here’s a look at who could fit into this category as the fall swing in 2022 arrives.

Davis Riley (OWGR: No. 70): Perhaps I’m crazy for believing that Riley could be on the 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup team, but his fall could (could, not will) go like Sam Burns’ did last year when he won the Sanderson and it catapulted him all the way to the U.S. Presidents Cup team the following September. Riley is probably not as talented as Burns, but the U.S. team is not necessarily that deep between the top 12-14, and Riley could absolutely get hot and find his way to Rome for the Ryder Cup 12 months from now. He had nine top 13s last season (including the Memorial and PGA Championship), and if he gets momentum going the right way, he could be a force in 2023. 

Sahith Theegala (No. 53): Speaking of golfers who could be on the 2023 Ryder Cup team in Rome, Theegala is on the short list of players who could jump into one of the final 3-4 spots that could be vacated from this year’s Presidents Cup team because of injuries, poor performance … or LIV. In November 2021, Data Golf ranked him as the 175th-best player in the world. Now he’s all the way up to 56th. If he can make a similar leap in 2023 (which could start with a win this fall that so eluded him throughout the year), then he’s a legitimate Ryder Cup threat.

Rickie Fowler (No. 157): The five-time PGA Tour champion is now ranked behind Kaito Onishi, Ewen Ferguson and Phachara Khongwatmai in the Official World Golf Rankings and needs something — anything –– good to go his way this fall. He’s split with both his caddie and his coach, and will try to regain the form that once made him a Players champion as well as a perennial top-10 player in the world. Coincidentally, I thought Fowler found a springboard last fall when he narrowly lost the CJ Cup to Rory McIlroy; instead, that was his only top 20 of the season. If you’re looking for hope here, Fowler actually improved statistically from 2021 to 2022 after declining in each of the previous three seasons.

Justin Suh (No. 132): He’s probably the player from last year’s Korn Ferry Tour with the most upside. The pedigree is great, he had 10 top 10s on the Korn Ferry Tour last year and is normally a strokes gained menace — though the first two PGA Tour events of his season haven’t gone all that well. Most casual golf fans probably haven’t heart of (or don’t remember) the name, but it’s not difficult to see Suh catching heat over the final two months of play while jumping toward the top 50 in the world and into all the majors in 2022.

Tommy Fleetwood (No. 30): Fleetwood quietly finished the summer on a heater (T4 at the Scottish Open and Open Championship), and while his game is not in disarray like Fowler’s, he hasn’t had the last few years he probably envisioned and hasn’t won a big-time event since the Abu Dhabi Championship in 2018. It would be awesome to see Fleetwood grab a win or two this fall going into a Ryder Cup year and trying to build on what was his first-ever two-top-10 season in majors in 2022 (he added the PGA Championship as well).

Thomas Pieters (No. 33): As I was writing the Fleetwood paragraph, I thought to myself, “I think almost all of these same things about Pieters, too.”  I don’t know that he needs to win this fall- — he won the Abu Dhabi Championship earlier in 2022 — but it would make for a hyped lead-in to 2023 for somebody with silly talent. It would be fabulous to see a swaggering Pieters roll into the four majors in 2023 and then reunite with former Ryder Cup bomb-launching partner Rory McIlroy in Rome.

Source link

The most under the radar season to play golf outside is the fall, which has (mostly) arrived. The days are still long enough to get your rounds in, and the weather is not so sweltering that you want to call it after four holes. It is, as far as golf scenes go, about as pleasant and enjoyable as it gets in most parts of the country.

With this in mind, we have a few recommendations for you this fall of stuff we’ve either been trying out or using over the last few weeks and months. Not all of this gear is for on-course play, but all of it it will almost certainly enhance your golf experience for the rest of 2022.

Holderness & Bourne Sullivan pullover ($145 | Holderness & Bourne): The only pullover you need for this fall. It’s soft, light, warm and perfect for crisp mornings and cool evenings. Holderness & Bourne has been pumping out some great stuff recently, and this is among the best products they currently make (full disclosure: author is outfitted by Holderness & Bourne).

Lululemon commission golf pants ($150 | Lululemon): I absolutely love these pants. They’re somehow both light but also well-constructed. I love playing golf in them, I love not playing golf in them and I’ll wear them almost every day this fall.

Linksoul Groover hoodie ($75 | Linksoul): Lightweight hoodies are a must in the fall, and Linksoul makes a great one. It’s stretchy and light but also warm enough to wear when the temperature drops, whether you’re on or off the course. I love this hoodie.

Primo joggers ($90 | Primo): I feel a bit like an old man trying to convince the kids he still has it when I rock the joggers out on the course (or off of it for that matter), but these are definitely worth it. I’m a huge fan of Primo’s product and these are versatile enough to wear with a collared shirt while playing golf or with a t-shirt while not playing golf.

TRUE Original 1.2 ($170 | TRUE): There are a lot of great golf shoes out there, but not all of them are socially acceptable to wear off the course like these TRUE kicks are. They’re light and comfortable but also stable enough to hold up for walking a full round (or two). I also love that you don’t even have to change out of them when you’re done. I wear them pretty much everywhere, which is a rarity in the golf shoe world.

Shapland Elate stand bag ($395 | Shapland): My new favorite golf bag in the world. It was time for me to toss my 10-year-old bag, and Shapland makes an absolutely incredible product. Every detail is considered, and every feature is the highest quality (leather straps, soft club holders and heavy metal buckles). I still use a push cart, but this bag has made me want to just straight up walk. That’s how light, durable and perfect it is.

Seamus headcovers ($75 | Seamus): There’s no better headcover product on the market. In a day when louder seems to be all the rage, Seamus’ products are subtle, top-shelf gems. Their color schemes are sublime, the quality of their material is as good as it gets in golf, and — you may not know this — they’ve also branched out into yardage books and pouches for tees and ball markers, both of which are just as splendidly-made as their famous headcovers.

Goodr ($35 | Clubhouse Closeout): Goodr sunglasses have become my go-to shades. I don’t normally wear sunglasses while playing, but with their no-slip performance, you certainly could. I’m very much in on the product, the brand and the price point of Goodr.

Solo Stove ($240 | Solo Stove): This is definitely not a golf-centric product, but it’s perfect for a post-round beer and chat. Several of my friends have Solo Stoves and love how it contains the smoke (the worst part of any fireside hangout).  As far as fall golf goes, it’s something I’m very much looking forward to having to come home to after those chilly late afternoon rounds.

Bushnell ($600 | Bushnell): There are myriad rangefinder products in the marketplace these days, but Bushnell remains the top of the class. Its price certainly reflects that, but I would argue that if you buy a quality rangefinder once, you won’t really ever need one again. The Pro X3 had the slope adjust button moved to the top and offers multiple colors you can use to lock on to your target.  I’ve never been disappointed in a Bushnell product.

Source link

For many of us in the United States, Labor Day is unofficially the end of summer. Kids are back in school, football has kicked off, and baseball will be heading into the fall classic. As these blistering temperatures are (slowly) coming to end, many of us golfers will be able to take advantage of the cooler weather. Finally, playing a round of fall golf will not feel like playing on the sun’s surface.

Fall Golf Apparel

With the seasons changing, playing a round of golf will require different gear. Even if the fall temps don’t reach a record low, it still gets pretty chilly. Not having the right apparel will affect your golf game. Instead of focusing on hitting the ball, you’ll be thinking about how cold you are because you wore shorts and a Dri-Fit polo. To help keep you comfortable on the course, we recommend buying this gear when playing in the fall.

Hats

Wearing a baseball-style hat or visor is pretty standard in golf. It helps keep sweat at bay and blocks out the sun. The fall isn’t quite cold enough yet to wear a beanie, so you’ll be fine with a regular hat/visor.

Tops

Male and female golfers should look into long sleeve polos or quarter zips for cooler temps. Sometimes a brisk wind will roll through and you’ll want a little extra warmth with a long sleeve. Just remember to look for polos that help keep in warmth (e.g. thermal-wear). Many of the popular golf brands have shirts that have moisture-wicking technology and thermal layers.

Bottoms

News flash, summer is over and so are your shorts. As great as shorts are for June through August, they won’t keep you comfy during the fall (unless you’re in Florida, Arizona, or Nevada). Golf pants are definitely the way to go for fall golf.

Socks

Often forgotten and hardly seen, socks play a significant role when playing in cooler weather. Why you may ask? Well, there is plenty of moisture (sweat) in your shoes when playing golf. Thin socks in colder weather will have your feet feeling like they will break off from frostbite. You don’t want to think about your pinky toe breaking off while shooting for birdie do you? Of course not, do yourself a favor and wear thicker socks.

Outerwear

This is where you get to be fancy and stand out during the fall. Not only will having a jacket or vest help keep you warm, but it’ll help complete your golf look. There are a lot of choices you can go with, puffy vest, quarter-zip fleece, rain jacket, and hoodies. When shopping for these items, make sure they have thermal technology for the inner layers. And you may want to think about getting one that repels rain. It’ll double up as a rain jacket for inclement weather.

Accessories

Have you ever booked a course you had no business being in, but it was a chance of a lifetime? Rain, sleet, and snow wouldn’t stop you from playing (well, unless it’s a hurricane)? Sometimes mother nature will try to ruin your plans. Sometimes the course temperatures will look like the mid-’50s, and then a cold snap drops it to 38 degrees. To help tough it out during a cold snap, you can pick up these items at your local golf shop.

• Golf Cart Heater: It’s a propane-fueled warmer designed to keep you warm in the cart. It’s compact and fits in your cup holder, however, you’ll have to put your beer elsewhere.
• Hand & Toe Warmers: Cheap and effective, the brand Hot Hands makes warmers for your hands and toes. You can pick them up for about $3 bucks a pack.
• Gloves: Speaking of hands, packing thicker gloves will also help keep your hands warm.

Source link